Tips for recovery of stuck motorist?

For those of you who have done some recovery of stuck vehicles could you share some tips and lessons you may have learned during the process? I just bought a hitch mounted recovery hook. A heavy duty recovery strap.....30,000 lbs rated. And a D shackle for attaching to the vehicle in need in case they don't have available hooks. I plan on removing the bottom portion of my Aries Bull Bar sheet metal to give me acces to my front 2 hooks if that's how I need to yank them from the situation. Thanks in advance.

 

I do a lot of ice fishing on lakes and we are continuously getting stuck. I find the best is to hook up to your front tow hook, leave a foot or two of slack and giver. Pulling from the front works much better and you have a good view of what's going on. Never use a chain or you will break stuff. Always use 4 low to pull people out, especially if it's a standard, trust me your clutch will thank you.

 

I've always read pulling from the front is a bad idea, something to do with the gears being weaker pulling in reverse than forward. Hopefully somebody else can chime in and clarify this.

And OP, for recovery, look for a kinetic energy strap such as an ARB strap. They are made to stretch so that you can get a bit of a running start for the pull, without harshly jerking your truck and the stuck vehicle.

Edit: Did a little searching, HERE is a decent explanation of why gears are weaker in reverse

 

If you're not comfortable with recovered do not attempt it.

You're dealing with forces the likes of which you have no idea what damage they can really incur. They can kill. Easily. Far too easily. Please be careful out there.

(I have a winch so it's easy for me. Spool out, connect to solid point, push button on hand remote.)

 

The best advice, is to ensure that you don't become stuck yourself. Take a step back and look at the situation at hand. The second thing you need to think about is liability. If you damage their vehicle during recovery, you are 100% liable for that damage. Make 100% sure that you know what you are getting yourself in to.

 

I've always used a 30' strap and my hitch-mounted shackle.

When I pulled my buddy's F-150 out of his snowy driveway, I attached a hitch-mounted recovery hook to his hitch. I drove forward in 4HI to un-stick him, while he was driving in reverse.

I ran across a Focus that needed help too. Used a strap and a length of chain. Chain hooked onto his class II hitch. Gently did it and he was on his way. That time, a semi truck helped me out by blocking traffic.

Other times, front tow hooks on the stuck vehicle work awesome for pulling with my hitch-mounted shackle.

Try to pull in the forward direction so you can keep control of your truck.

And just remember... people need help but they can be unreasonable if something bad happens while you're helping them.

 

Leave a foot or two?! Come as close as possible to the vehicle your trying to pull out so there is about 10 feet of slack and

 

D shackle ? you have a pic? I've always pulled from the rear. Never had a problem

 

This.

I will report a stranded motorist to the Highway Patrol if they are out of cell range. Trying to recover them just puts you at risk, either physical or legal risk. Not worth it to me.

An acquaintance once changed a tire for a seemingly nice lady. He lost an additional hour of his day waiting for the Highway Patrol officer to determine whether he was a thief or not, as she claimed after he went into her trunk to secure the jack and the flat tire. She received a ticket for making a false police report, he was an hour and a half late for his class (where I knew him from). Think what would have happened if he cracked her hubcap.

 

Yup from experience your gears will blow up easier in reverse. If your pulling out someone barley stuck like on ice and the just need a small bump you will have more control forward. IF you have to romp on it because they are buried in mud or stuck fast I would use the rear bumper.

 

NEVER attach your recovery strap to a tow hitch ball on the stuck vehicle or the towing vehicle.
This is what can happen.



If they have a hitch use a spare shackle recovery hitch and pull from there.

 

Yup.

 

Not only get stuck yourself, but mess something up by yanking them out.... do not damage your own vehicle or equipment.

As with the liability, I would highly suggest writing up a document to keep in your recovery bag or somewhere that will state (in great detail) that you are not responsible whatsoever for any damages that may occur throughout the recovery process. Get a waiver from AAA, a towing company, hospital security/parking service & alter it to benefit you.

Having the signature and information of the person you are helping will help deter them from thinking about taking you to court for the damages.

 

im going to bring release papers or something haha. ill pull you out of that ditch, but you have to sign this releasing me of all liability if anything happens to your car. if not...you are staying in this ditch

 

THIS ^^^^^^ When i get my hands on some recovery gear i will probably carrry a bunch of those forms on a clipboard in behind my seats. it might seem silly, but i know a couple off road clubs that make similar waivers and require you to sign it before they make any attempt to recover your vehicle

 

Not saying rescue someone's vehicle from a flooded river (though you should lend a helping hand granted it's safe) just cover your ass when lending that hand

Not silly at all with the waiver, a clip board maybe since your hood would do just fine but definitely carry 1 or 2 with your registration or in your tool box/recovery gear bag

 

i meant more of the people your recovering might think its silly, but it will pay for itself instantly when their bodykit gets ripped off going over the edge of the road and they try to sue you for it

 

for all of you guys, here is one i found that could be modified a little, its one page and will cover your ass with a little rearragning/modification to it

http://www.dayandnighttow.com/hold_harmless.pdf

 

Ah yeah, maybe so but I don't think they're in much of a position to give you shit

Good link. I'm gonna type myself up a little document

 

Hello fellow Mike from Win, Man, Can. I got a All Pro skid for those very ice ridges that we encounter on Lake Winnipeg after catching one with the stock plate and becoming worried . I put a rear 12000lb hook on the rear hitch rvcr because I don't want to unscrew D rings at -30C (-20F) for how many times we get stuck on that lake.

As for helping family and friends and the occasional motorist that's stuck I too was looking for better practices.

Do they make a short say 6' recovery strap to put around an axle or frame on the stuck vehicle if no factory recovery point is available that we could put into a d ring and one end of the 30' recovery strap that's connected to recovery truck.

Yes recovery can be dangerous and therefore should be handled with safety in mind. I agree on the waiver - Call it the Good Samaritan's Act or something.